JP2005000651A - Inferior limb bathing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To simply perform massage of entire sole of foot by hot water. <P>SOLUTION: The inferior limb bathing device 10 is constituted so that the hot water is discharged from a discharge port 47 while one discharge nozzle 40 is swung in the forward and backward direction. By this, the hot water can reach over the wide range U1 of the sole of foot FU in the longitudinal direction one after another. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a lower limb bathing apparatus for bathing water in a lower limb.

  Conventionally, there has been proposed a sole hydraulic massager that sprays water on the sole and massages the sole (for example, Patent Document 1). In these devices, in order to massage a plurality of local areas of the sole, the direction of each of the three nozzles provided in the area where the sole can be placed is changed to an arbitrary direction by hand or straddles one nozzle. I was moving the soles of the feet on the rollers provided in.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-1111049

  However, in the conventional apparatus as described above, when trying to change the area to be massaged during use of the apparatus, the placed foot is removed and the orientation of the nozzle is adjusted. Therefore, there is room for improvement.

  On the other hand, if the number of nozzles corresponding to each local area of the sole is provided in the conventional apparatus, the complicated operation described above becomes unnecessary. However, since many local areas (for example, urns) to be massaged exist in a wide area on the sole of the foot, a large number of nozzles must be added, resulting in problems in terms of cost and water saving.

  Therefore, the present invention adopts the following configuration for the purpose of easily realizing a wide range of massage of the soles with hot water.

The lower limb bathing apparatus of the present invention is
A lower limb bathing device that bathes hot water in the lower limbs,
A nozzle for discharging hot water,
A footrest having an exposed area on which a foot is placed and exposing a predetermined range on the sole of the foot to the nozzle side;
A gist is provided with a water discharge state control unit that controls a water discharge state from the nozzle so that hot water discharged from the nozzle sequentially reaches a plurality of different points included in the exposed region.

  According to such a lower limb bathing apparatus, since the hot water discharged from the nozzle sequentially reaches a plurality of different locations in a predetermined range of the sole, massage of the entire sole with the hot water can be easily realized.

  In such a lower limb bathing apparatus, the point of arrival of the discharged hot water can be changed along the front-rear direction of the foot in the footrest. In this case, if the point of arrival of the discharged hot water reaches a range of 5 cm at least in the front-rear direction of the sole, it is possible to realize an average human bathing on the sole. In addition, if the hot water arrival point that is changed along the front-rear direction of the foot includes the presence of a plurality of pots on the sole, stimulation of the pot with hot water can be easily realized. .

  Or it is also suitable to change the arrival point of hot water in the front-back direction and the width direction of the foot in the footrest. If it carries out like this, hot water can be reached over the wide range of the width direction before and behind the sole without moving a foot, and the effect of a water bath can be acquired. In this case, it is also preferable that the point of arrival of the discharged hot water covers at least 5 cm in the front-rear direction of the sole and 4 cm in the width direction of the sole. In particular, it is preferable to stimulate the arches and springs, which are the places where many people are most likely to be attached, on the soles of the feet.

  Moreover, it is good also as what changes the arrival point of hot water along a predetermined | prescribed path | route in the presence position of the foot in a footrest. Since there are various vases on the sole, if the predetermined route is set in advance, the vase can be stimulated efficiently. In particular, in the case where the hot water arrival point can be changed in the front-rear direction and the width direction of the sole, the hot water arrival point can be changed two-dimensionally, so the hot water arrival point is changed along a predetermined route set in advance. By doing so, it is possible to sufficiently stimulate the sole of the foot. As such a predetermined path, a circle, an ellipse, a predetermined closed curve, or the like can be considered.

  Also, such a predetermined route can be set in advance as a route that sequentially passes through a plurality of hot water arrival points. In particular, when there is a stimulated pot or the like, if the position of such a pot is determined as a hot water arrival point, and a route that sequentially passes through the plurality of arrival points is set, the satisfaction of the user can be particularly increased.

  As such a lower limb bathing apparatus, there is one nozzle for discharging hot water per leg, and a configuration in which the arrival point of hot water can be changed by changing the direction of water discharge from this nozzle can be adopted. By doing so, hot water can reach a wide range with a single nozzle, which is preferable.

  Further, as another configuration for changing the arrival point of hot water using one nozzle per leg, a configuration for changing the position of the nozzle can be considered. Of course, such a change in the nozzle position may be one-dimensional. However, by changing the nozzle position in a plane substantially parallel to the position where the soles exist, it can be said to be two-dimensional. It may be changed. If the hot water arrival point can be changed two-dimensionally, the hot water arrival point can be set freely.

  Such a change of the nozzle position can be easily performed by an actuator such as a motor or a solenoid, but can also be performed by utilizing a reaction of water discharged from the tip of the nozzle. When the nozzle position is changed using the reaction of water discharge, only the water pressure can be used, and energy saving can be realized. In this case, if a mechanism for reversing the direction of water discharged from the nozzle when the nozzle reaches a predetermined position, the nozzle reciprocates within a predetermined range, which is more preferable.

  Of course, a plurality of nozzles may be provided on one foot, and the arrival point of the hot water may be changed by sequentially selecting nozzles for discharging hot water from the plurality of nozzles. In this case, it is easy to make the hot water arrival points discontinuous. It is also possible to change the arrival point at high speed.

  The hot water arrival point may be determined in advance, but since the position of the pot changes depending on the size of the foot, it is also preferable that the hot water arrival point from the nozzle is determined according to the foot size.

  Even when the route of the hot water arrival point is stored in advance, the route is registered as a set of a set of a plurality of position data representing a plurality of hot water arrival points, and the data registered as a set If a set of water is read out based on a predetermined operation and the arrival point of hot water discharged from the nozzle is controlled accordingly, the arrival of hot water depends on the cause and preference of fatigue or the difference in users. Since the route of a point can be made desired, it is preferable.

  In this case, it is desirable that the position data can be corrected for at least one of a plurality of position data representing a plurality of predetermined arrival points of hot water. This is because comfortable places such as the soles of the feet that receive hot water are slightly different for each user.

  The operation pattern in which the hot water discharged from the nozzle sequentially reaches a plurality of different points is stored for each of the different combinations of the arrival points, and the water discharge state is based on one drive pattern selected from the plurality of operation patterns. It is also suitable to control. In this case, a different location can be selected to receive hot water discharge.

(1) First embodiment:
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on examples. FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing a schematic configuration of a lower limb bathing apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment, and FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional shape of the lower limb bathing apparatus 10 taken along the line 2-2 in FIG. It is explanatory drawing shown. FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing a state when the bottom surface 26t of the recess 26 is viewed from above. In FIG. 3, the line 2-2 shown in FIG. 1 is indicated by a one-dot chain line.

  As illustrated, the lower limb bathing apparatus 10 includes a main body 12 with rubber feet 15. The main body 12 is made of resin, and includes an upper portion 20 having a recess 26 that can store lower limbs including feet, and a lower portion 30 having a space that can store various functional units for water discharge. The lower limb bathing apparatus 10 is an apparatus that bathes hot water discharged from the water discharge nozzle 40 onto the lower limbs housed in the upper portion 20. The bathing of the lower limbs is hereinafter referred to as foot bathing.

  The ceiling wall of the main body 12 includes a front cover 21 and a rear cover 22 that cover the recess 26. The front cover 21 and the rear cover 22 are pivotally attached to the front end and the rear end of the upper end portion of the upper portion 20 so as to be openable and closable. Although not shown, the upper portion 20 is provided with a stopper for holding the closed front cover 21 or rear cover 22 in a closed state.

  Both the front cover 21 and the rear cover 22 are formed of a highly transparent member. Therefore, the user visually recognizes the state of the lower limbs covered by the front cover 21 and the rear cover 22 (for example, the arrangement state of the feet on the footrest 50 and the water discharge state from the water discharge nozzle 40) from the outside of the apparatus 10. can do.

  Substantially circular openings 27L and 27R are formed at the portion where the front cover 21 and the rear cover 22 are in contact with each other in the closed state, and rubber members 23L and 24L as elastic members and rubber are formed in the openings 27L and 27R. Members 23R and 24R are provided. The rubber members 23L and 23R are attached to the back surface of the front cover 21, and the rubber members 24L and 24R are attached to the back surface of the rear cover 22.

  When the front cover 21 is closed after the rear cover 22 is closed, portions where the rubber members 23L, 23R and the rubber members 24L, 24R overlap (hereinafter, referred to as overlapping portions DL, DR) are formed in the openings 27L, 27R. The In addition, hole portions 25L and 25R, which are gap portions where the rubber members 23L and 24L and the rubber members 23R and 24R do not exist, are formed in the center portion of the opening 27L and the center portion of the opening 27R. Through these holes 25L and 25R, the lower limb portion to be foot bathed is inserted into the recess 26 (see FIG. 2). In the following description, the direction and side where the toes are facing in FIG. 2 are referred to as “front direction” and “front side”, and the direction and side where the heel is facing in FIG. "Direction" and "rear side".

  As shown in FIG. 2, one drain hole 28 is provided on the bottom surface 26 t of the recess 26. The drain hole 28 is formed at a substantially central position on the front side of the bottom surface 26t (see FIG. 3) and penetrates from the bottom surface 26t to the bottom of the device 10 in a substantially vertical direction. Further, the bottom surface 26t is provided with a gradient toward the drain port 29 so that hot water that has fallen on the bottom surface 26t flows smoothly toward the drain port 29 that is an inlet to the drain hole 28.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a footrest 50 is disposed in the recess 26 in a state of being erected at a predetermined height from the bottom surface 26 t. The footrest 50 includes an upper surface plate 54 on which both feet are placed, and four side plates 55A to 55D that support the upper surface plate 54 (see FIG. 3).

  The upper surface plate 54 includes a mounting surface 54a on which a foot is placed. At a position closer to the rear side of the mounting surface 54a, a heel recess 50a for guiding a heel, which is an inherent position of the foot, is formed. Therefore, when the user of the present apparatus places his / her foot on the footrest 50, the heel of the foot is guided by the heel recess 50a and enters the heel recess 50a. Thereby, the position of the foot on the footrest 50 is determined based on the heel. In FIG. 3, the outline of the sole FU when the heel is put in the heel recess 50a and the foot is placed on the placement surface 54a is indicated by a two-dot chain line.

  As shown in FIG. 3, in the central portion of the upper surface plate 54, two through holes 51 through which hot water from a water discharge nozzle 40 described later is passed are formed. As shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 3, when the user of this apparatus puts a heel in the heel recess 50 a and puts his / her foot on the mounting surface 54 a, the sole of the foot straddling the through hole 51 is the water discharge nozzle 40. It will be in the state exposed to the side. In the present embodiment, the through hole 51 corresponds to an “exposed region” in the claims. Further, the front side plate 55A and the rear side plate 55C are provided with a gate opening 58 and a gate opening 59 that function as a passage of hot water that has fallen on the bottom surface 26t, respectively.

  The upper part 20, the front cover 21, the rear cover 22, and the footrest 50 can be configured so that only one foot can be stored or placed. In the present embodiment, the footrest 50 is formed integrally with the bottom surface 26t of the recess 26. However, the footrest 50 may be configured to be removable in consideration of maintenance such as cleaning and nozzle replacement. Absent.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a water discharge nozzle 40 is provided near the approximate center of the bottom surface 26 t of the recess 26. The water discharge nozzle 40 is provided at a position almost directly below each through hole 51 of the upper surface plate 54 in a state where a total of two for left foot and right foot are arranged side by side. By the water discharge nozzle 40, hot water is discharged toward a portion (hereinafter referred to as an exposed portion FUp) disposed in the through hole 51 in the sole placed on the footrest 50. Hereinafter, the hot water discharged from the water discharge nozzle 40 is referred to as a sole-oriented hot water. The foot-oriented hot water passes through the through-hole 51 formed in the footrest 50 and reaches a predetermined location (for example, a pot) of the exposed portion FUp of the sole, and then scatters into the recess 26. After falling to the bottom surface 26 t, it is guided by the gradient given to the bottom surface 26 t, guided to the drain port 29, and discharged to the outside of the apparatus 10 through the drain hole 28.

  Here, the structure of the water discharge nozzle 40 will be described. FIG. 4 is an explanatory view for explaining the water discharge nozzle 40 and its operating state. As shown in the figure, the water discharge nozzle 40 includes a water supply hole 41a for supplying hot water into the nozzle block 41 and an inflow chamber 42 into which the hot water supplied from the water supply hole 41a flows. A nozzle body 44 is incorporated in the inflow chamber 42 so as to take an inclined posture. The nozzle body 44 guides hot water that has flowed into the inflow chamber 42 from the side surface thereof. The hot water guided to the inside passes through a water discharge hole 45 formed with a bottom on the tip side of the nozzle body 44, and is discharged from the water discharge port 47 that is an outlet from the water discharge hole 45 as foot-oriented hot water.

  When hot water flows into the inflow chamber 42 from the eccentric flow path as indicated by an arrow in the figure, a swirling flow is generated in the inflow chamber 42. This swirling flow exerts a force for swirling the nozzle body 44 located in the inflow chamber 42. The nozzle body 44 is inserted and supported with a slight play at the tip side of the nozzle body 44 and takes an inclined posture as described above. Therefore, the nozzle body 44 pivots in an inclined posture around a support location by the opening 46. By the way, the front end side of the nozzle body 44 is also guided by the guide portion 48 in the inflow chamber 42. The guide portion 48 is a circular bore, and comes into contact with the outer wall of the tip end of the inclined nozzle body 44. The nozzle body 44 tries to swivel in an inclined posture by the above-described swirl flow, but its movement is limited by the contact point X between the tip of the nozzle body and the inner wall of the guide portion. Since this contact point X moves along the arc of the guide portion 48 shape, the nozzle body 44 revolves around the revolution axis KJ, which is the central axis of the opening 46, while the spout 47 at the tip of the nozzle is moved along the guide portion 48. It is moved (turned) along a circular locus following the circular arc of the shape, and hot water is discharged from the water outlet 47 while causing such a movement. Therefore, the hot water discharged from the nozzle body 44 while turning at an angle is landed on the sole or the like in a substantially circular shape. Such a landing shape can be various by changing the bore shape of the guide portion 48. For example, if the guide portion 48 is elliptical, the landing shape of hot water from the nozzle body 44 can be changed. It can be substantially elliptical.

  As described above, the lower limb bathing apparatus 10 uses the water discharge nozzle 40 that discharges hot water while the nozzle body 44 is turned in a substantially circular shape, so that even a small amount of hot water discharged is sufficient for a wide range of legs. It becomes possible to give a stimulus of strength. Therefore, hot water for nozzle water discharge can be used efficiently.

  Returning to FIG. A swing mechanism 80 that drives the water discharge nozzle 40 is incorporated in the bottom surface 26 t of the recess 26. The swing mechanism 80 is a mechanism that changes the inclination angle of the water discharge nozzle 40 (the direction of the water discharge port 47) by swinging the water discharge nozzle 40 in the longitudinal direction (front-rear direction) of the sole. By swinging the water discharge nozzle 40, the landing area of the hot water discharged from the water discharge nozzle 40 can be expanded in the exposed portion FUp of the foot sole FU without moving the foot position on the footrest 50. it can.

  FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing an example of the swing mechanism 80, and FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing the structure of the cam mechanism 81 provided in the swing mechanism 80. As shown in the figure, the swing mechanism 80 is connected to an engagement rod 82 attached to the nozzle block 41 of the water discharge nozzle 40, a cam mechanism 81 having a cam with which the engagement rod 82 engages, and the cam mechanism 81. Motor M0. When the motor M0 is driven, the rotational driving force of the motor M0 is transmitted to the cam mechanism 81, and the cam in the cam mechanism 81 moves. As shown in FIG. 6, this cam causes the engagement rod 82 to advance and retreat and tilt forward and backward at the same time along the cam surface. As shown in FIG. The engagement rod 82 and the water discharge nozzle 40 are swung in the front-rear direction.

  Next, returning to FIG. 2, various functional units housed in the lower part 30 will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, in the lower part 30, an electric pump 60 that feeds hot water into the water discharge nozzle 40, a water supply pipe 63 connected to the water supply hole of the electric pump 60, a water discharge hole and a water discharge nozzle 40 of the electric pump 60. A flexible tube 61 that connects a water supply hole 41a (see FIG. 4) provided in the nozzle block 41 is accommodated. The water supply pipe 63 is taken out of the apparatus 10, and a primary side pipe such as a water pipe or a hot water supply pipe is connected to the water supply pipe 63. Thereby, hot water is supplied from the water supply pipe 63 to the electric pump 60, and the supplied hot water is pumped to the water discharge nozzle 40 by the operation of the electric pump 60.

  A storage chamber 38 is formed between the upper portion 20 and the lower portion 30 as a space independent of the storage spaces in the upper portion 20 and the lower portion 30. The storage chamber 38 has a CPU, ROM, RAM, timer, etc. A control device 64 having each functional part is housed.

  An electric pump 60 is connected to the output side of the control device 64. The control device 64 controls the operation of the electric pump 60 by instructing the electric pump 60 to drive the pump, and whether or not hot water is supplied to the water discharge nozzle 40, the flow of hot water supplied to the water discharge nozzle 40, and the like. Adjust. By such water flow control, the water flow from the water discharge nozzle 40 can be changed according to the state of the foot (for example, the degree of dirt, the presence or absence of trauma, the degree of fatigue, etc.). The motor M0 of the swing mechanism 80 is connected to the output side of the control device 64.

  Although not shown, a sensor device that senses a transmission signal from the remote control device 19 is connected to the input side of the control device 64. The receiving portion of this sensor device is embedded in the side wall of the storage chamber 38 in a state exposed to the outside. The receiving unit receives a setting signal from the remote control device 19 and inputs this setting signal to the control device 64. The control device 64 controls the operation of the electric pump 60, the swing mechanism 80, the front cover 21, and the rear cover 22 based on the input setting signal.

  The remote control device 19 includes a water discharge switch 19a for instructing start (on) and end (off) of water discharged from the water discharge nozzle 40, a water pressure setting switch 19c for setting the water flow of water to be discharged, a front cover 21 and a rear cover 22. A cover opening / closing switch 19b is provided to instruct opening / closing of the cover. The front cover 21 and the rear cover 22 can be automatically opened and closed by remote operation using the cover opening / closing switch 19b. When the water discharge switch 19a is turned on, the drive of the electric pump 60 and the swing mechanism 80 is started, and when the water discharge switch 19a is turned off, the drive of the electric pump 60 and the swing mechanism 80 is stopped. Moreover, the drive state of the electric pump 60 can be adjusted by remote operation using the water setting switch 19c.

  When using the lower limb bathing apparatus 10 configured in this way, the user first presses the open switch of the cover opening / closing switch 19b, and the closed front cover 21 and rear cover 22 are shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. Leave open as shown. Thereafter, the lower limb is inserted into the upper portion 20, the foot is placed on the groin 50a of the footrest 50, and the closing switch of the cover opening / closing switch 19b is pushed. Thereby, the front cover 21 and the rear cover 22 are closed, and the front cover 21 and the rear cover 22 are held in a closed state as shown in FIG. 2 by the stopper described above. In the closed state of the front cover 21 and the rear cover 22, the rubber members 23L, 24L, and 23R are located around a predetermined portion of the lower limb FT in the openings 27L and 27R (in this embodiment, a portion slightly above the ankle). , 24R is appropriately tightened by the elastic force. As shown in FIG. 2, the lower limb portion below the tightened portion is accommodated as a foot bath object in the recess 26 in a state covered with the front cover 21, the rear cover 22, and the rubber members 23R and 24R.

  Thereafter, the control device 64 that has received a water discharge start instruction by operating the water discharge switch 19a sets the set value based on the current water force setting value (default value or a value set by operating the water force setting switch 19c). The driving state of the electric pump 60 to be realized is determined, and the electric pump 60 is instructed to drive in this driving state. In addition, the control device 64 instructs the swing mechanism 80 to start driving.

  By driving the electric pump 60 and the swing mechanism 80 based on such instructions, the set amount of hot water is discharged from the water outlet 47 while the water discharge nozzle 40 swings in the front-rear direction. It should be noted that various stimuli (massage feeling or the like) can be obtained on the sole of the foot by changing the set value of the water force by the water force setting switch 19c.

  Note that there is no gap between the openings 27L, 27R and the lower limbs by tightening with the rubber members 23L, 24L, 23R, 24R. Therefore, the scattered hot water splashed in the recess 26 after water discharge is prevented from leaking out of the apparatus 10.

  In the lower limb bathing apparatus 10, the region where the hot water discharged from the water discharge nozzle 40 reaches the exposed portion FUp of the sole FU is shown in FIG. FIG. 7 shows a state when the through hole 51 is viewed from the water discharge nozzle 40 side in a state where the sole FU of the left foot is placed on the placement surface 54a of the footrest 50. For this reason, in FIG. 7, the exposed portion FUp of the sole FU is visible through the through hole 51, and the areas of several crucibles FUtA to FUtE in the sole FU are represented in broken-line circles. Vases FUtA, FUtB, FUtC, FUtD, and FUtE represent the vases of solitary shadow, back inner garden, spring, foot and sleeplessness, respectively. Note that the front, rear, left, and right directions shown in FIG. 7 indicate directions when the back of the left foot placed on the placement surface 54a is viewed from the placement surface 54a side. Moreover, in FIG. 7, the outline of the heel recess 50a and the sole FU which exist in the mounting surface 54a side is shown using the broken line.

  In the lower limb bathing apparatus 10 of the first embodiment, hot water is spouted from the spout 47 while swinging the spout nozzle 40 in the front-rear direction, so that the hot water is a wide area U1 in the longitudinal direction of the sole FU (indicated by a hatched line in FIG. 7). Water is sequentially landed over the area indicated by hatching. Thereby, the range in which the hot water discharged from the water discharge nozzle 40 lands on the sole FU is expanded as compared with the conventional case. Accordingly, a wide range of the sole FU can be massaged without moving the foot position on the footrest 50. Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the sole FU is dotted with a plurality of crucibles in its longitudinal direction. According to the lower limb bathing apparatus 10 of the first embodiment, the plurality of crucibles are separated by one. Stimulation can be performed with the water discharge nozzle 40.

  In addition, in the lower limb bathing apparatus 10 of the first embodiment, expansion of the water landing range on the sole FU is realized by a change in the inclination angle of the water discharge nozzle 40. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the installation space of the mechanism that expands the water landing range on the sole FU. For example, in order to realize water landing over the region U1 of the sole FU, it is not necessary to provide a water discharge nozzle slide mechanism or a large number of water discharge nozzles immediately below the region U1.

  Further, in the first embodiment, the cam of the swing mechanism 80 is pushed up by the cam surface in a posture in which the engagement rod 82 is inclined as the water discharge nozzle 40 goes to the end of the swing drive locus. Therefore, the distance (distance e2, e3 shown in FIG. 5) between the exposed portion FUp of the sole FU and the water outlet 47 after the water discharge nozzle 40 is inclined is the distance before the inclination (distance e1 shown in FIG. 5). Can be approached. For example, the push-up length of the engagement rod 82 by the cam surface is the distance between the exposed portion FUp of the sole FU and the water discharge port 47 (hereinafter referred to as the separation distance) regardless of the inclination angle of the water discharge nozzle 40. If the length is substantially equal (the distances e2 and e3 and the distance e1 are substantially equal), water discharge with the same strength can be obtained over the entire exposed portion FUp of the sole FU.

  The structure for swinging the water discharge nozzle 40 can also be realized by a mechanism other than the swing mechanism 80. For example, in a mechanism for transmitting the driving force of a motor to a spline gear via a spline shaft, a configuration in which the engagement rod is connected to the rotation shaft of the spline gear can be considered. According to this configuration, when the motor is driven in the forward / reverse direction, the driving force of the motor is transmitted to the spline gear, so that the spline gear rotates forward or backward around the gear shaft. By such forward / reverse drive of the spline gear, the engagement rod 82 and the water discharge nozzle 40 can be swung in the front-rear direction. According to this configuration, there is an advantage that the inclination angle of the water discharge nozzle 40 can be adjusted by controlling the driving amount of the motor.

  It is also possible to adjust the separation distance using a mechanism other than the cam mechanism 81 described above. For example, a configuration in which the entire length of the water discharge nozzle 40 can be expanded and contracted and the degree of expansion and contraction of the water discharge nozzle 40 is controlled by the control device 64 can be considered. In this configuration, if the control is performed so that the total length of the water discharge nozzle 40 increases as the inclination angle of the water discharge nozzle 40 increases, water discharge of the same strength can be obtained over the entire exposed portion FUp of the sole FU.

  In the above embodiment, the water landing range on the sole FU is expanded by changing the inclination angle of the water discharge nozzle 40 (the direction of the water discharge port 47). The enlargement can also be realized by a configuration in which a large number of water discharge nozzles are provided directly below the range of the region U1 or a configuration in which a slide mechanism of the water discharge nozzle is provided directly below the range of the region U1. As the slide mechanism, in addition to a mechanism that moves the water discharge nozzle by a driving force of a motor, a mechanism that moves the water discharge nozzle by a hot water discharge force from the water discharge nozzle can be considered.

  The structure of the slide mechanism 85 using the water discharging force is shown in FIG. The slide mechanism 85 includes a water discharge nozzle 40 with a shaft 87. The shaft 87 is fitted to the rail 86 in a state where the water discharge nozzle 40 is inclined. When hot water is discharged from the water discharge nozzle 40 in the slide mechanism 85, the water discharge nozzle 40 slides on the rail 86 by the component force C in the direction along the rail 86 of the water discharge force. When the water discharge nozzle 40 that has slid approaches the end portion of the rail 86, the shaft 87 collides with the stopper 88, and a reaction force D of the component force C is generated by this collision. Due to the reaction force D, the water discharge nozzle 40 slides on the rail 86 in the opposite direction. By providing such a slide mechanism 85 directly below the range of the region U1, the hot water discharged from the water discharge nozzle 40 can be sequentially landed on the wide region U1 in the longitudinal direction of the sole FU.

  FIG. 9 shows a configuration in which a large number of water discharge nozzles are provided directly below the range of the region U1. FIG. 9 shows a state when the through hole 51 is viewed from the placement surface 54a side, and the outline of the sole FU of the right foot placed on the placement surface 54a is indicated by a two-dot chain line. Thirteen water discharge nozzles 40 are arranged at a predetermined interval i in a range corresponding to the region U1 in FIG. 7 on the bottom surface 26t located directly below the through hole 51. If hot water is discharged sequentially from each of the water discharge nozzles 40 in the order of arrangement, the hot water discharged from the water discharge nozzle 40 can be sequentially landed on a wide region U1 in the longitudinal direction of the sole FU. As already described, since the hot water is discharged in the state where the water discharge nozzle 40 is swung in a substantially circular shape, the range of water landing on the sole FU by one water discharge nozzle 40 is wider than that of a normal nozzle. Become. Therefore, even when the interval i between the water discharge nozzles 40 is set longer, it is possible to make the hot water land on the entire range of the region U1, and to reduce the number of water discharge nozzles 40 arranged.

(2) Second Embodiment Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In the second embodiment, the bottom surface 26t of the recess 26 is provided with a mechanism (swing / sliding mechanism) that enables both the swinging and sliding of the water discharge nozzle, instead of the swing mechanism 80. Different from the example. The structure of the swing / slide mechanism 180 is shown in FIG. In the second embodiment, parts common to the first embodiment are expressed by using the same numerals or letters as those in the first embodiment.

  The swing / slide mechanism 180 includes a table 171 on which a ball screw 172 is mounted. The shaft of the motor M1 is connected to the end of the ball screw 172. Further, the nozzle block 141 of the water discharge nozzle 140 meshes with the ball screw 172 with the water discharge port 147 facing upward. On the other hand, the shaft of the motor M3 is connected to the lower portion of the table 171.

  When the table 171 rotates in accordance with the driving of the motor M3, the table 171 tilts in the longitudinal direction (front-rear direction) of the sole. Thereby, the inclination angle of the water discharge nozzle 140 (the direction of the water discharge port 147) is changed. On the other hand, when the ball screw 172 is rotated as the motor M1 is driven, the water discharge nozzle 140 moves along the ball screw 172 in the width direction of the sole (left and right direction). Specifically, the water discharge nozzle 140 is tilted forward and backward by the forward drive and reverse drive of the motor M3, respectively, and moves left and right by the forward drive and reverse drive of the motor M1, respectively. .

  As with the motor M0 in the first embodiment, the motor M3 starts driving when the water discharge switch is turned on, and the drive amount realizes a swing operation in the same angle range as in the first embodiment. Is controlled to be. On the other hand, the start and stop of driving of the motor M1 and the adjustment of the driving amount are performed by operating an adjusting switch (not shown). Of course, it is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the drive amounts of the motors M1, M3 are adjusted to an arbitrary degree for each of the motors M1, M3.

  According to the lower limb bathing apparatus of the second embodiment in which such a swing / slide mechanism 180 is incorporated, it is possible to swing the water discharge nozzle 140 in the front-rear direction and slide the water discharge nozzle 140 in the left-right direction. Therefore, the position of the water discharge nozzle 140 relative to the sole can be changed two-dimensionally. In the lower limb bathing apparatus of the second embodiment, a region where hot water discharged from the water discharge nozzle 140 lands on the exposed portion FUp of the sole FU is shown in FIG. FIG. 11 is a view corresponding to FIG. 7 in the first embodiment, and shows a state when the through hole 151 is viewed from the water discharge nozzle 140 side.

  In the lower limb bathing apparatus of the second embodiment, since hot water is discharged from the water outlet 147 while swinging the water discharge nozzle 140 in the front-rear direction, the hot water is wide in the longitudinal direction of the sole FU as in the first embodiment. Water sequentially arrives over the area U1 (area shown by hatching in FIG. 11). In addition, by performing the above-described swing water discharge after sliding the water discharge nozzle 140 in the left-right direction, the water landing possible range on the sole FU is the width of the sole as shown by the double line arrow in FIG. The hot water can be made to land on the region U2 of the sole FU that extends in the direction and is different from the region U1. Therefore, the massage range of the sole FU can be further expanded, and a greater number of acupuncture points can be stimulated by one water discharge nozzle 140.

(3) Third Embodiment Next, a third embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. The third embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that a slide mechanism 270 that slides the water discharge nozzle in a two-dimensional direction is provided on the bottom surface 26t of the recess 26 in place of the swing mechanism 80. The configuration of the lower limb bathing apparatus 210 of the third embodiment is shown in FIG. FIG. 12 corresponds to FIG. 2 in the first embodiment. In the third embodiment, parts common to the first embodiment are expressed by using the same numerals or letters as those in the first embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 12, a slide mechanism 270 that moves the position of the water discharge nozzle 240 is incorporated in the bottom surface 226 t of the recess 226. The slide mechanism 270 is configured to adjust the position of the water discharge nozzle 240 by two-dimensionally moving the position of the water discharge nozzle 240 relative to the sole by using both the forward and backward movement and the left-right movement of the water discharge nozzle 240. Has been.

  The structure of the slide mechanism 270 is shown in FIG. A ball screw 272 connected to the shaft of the motor M4 is mounted on the top of the table 271. The nozzle block 241 of the water discharge nozzle 240 meshes with the ball screw 272 with the water discharge port 247 facing upward. A ball screw 273 extending in a direction intersecting with the ball screw 272 is attached to the lower portion of the table 271. This ball screw 273 is connected to the shaft of the motor M2.

  As the ball screw 272 rotates in accordance with the driving of the motor M4, the water discharge nozzle 240 moves in the left-right direction. On the other hand, when the ball screw 273 rotates with the driving of the motor M2, the table 271 moves in the front-rear direction, and as a result, the water discharge nozzle 240 moves in the front-rear direction. Specifically, the water discharge nozzle 240 moves in the left direction and the right direction by the forward rotation drive and the reverse drive of the motor M4, respectively, and moves in the forward direction and the backward direction by the forward rotation drive and the reverse drive of the motor M2, respectively. To do.

  The biaxial slide mechanism (xy table) as described above can also be provided by providing the slide mechanism 270 with a belt that advances as the motors M2 and M4 are driven instead of the ball screws 272 and 273. Can be realized.

  Returning to FIG. The ROM of the control device 264 stores a program for executing sequential water discharge processing, which will be described later, reference data, and the like. Motors M2 and M4 of a slide mechanism 270 are connected to the output side of the control device 264. The control device 264 controls the operation of the slide mechanism 270 by instructing the slide mechanism 270 with the drive patterns of the motors M <b> 2 and M <b> 4 and adjusts the position of the water discharge nozzle 240. By such position adjustment, the position where the hot water discharged from the water discharge nozzle 240 hits the exposed portion FUp of the sole can be changed.

  The remote control device 219 includes a changeover switch 219d for instructing whether the water discharge nozzle 240 to be moved is for the left foot or the right foot by pressing the buttons “left foot” and “right foot”, the water discharge nozzle Position adjustment switch 219e, “A course”, “B” instructing movement of the position of 240 in the front, rear, left, and right directions by pressing the “front”, “back”, “left”, and “right” buttons. A massage course switch 219f for instructing execution of a course menu for discharging hot water while sequentially moving the water discharge nozzle 240 to a plurality of different sole positions by pressing operation of the buttons “course” and “C course” is provided. It has been. The drive state of the slide mechanism 270 can be adjusted by remote control using the changeover switch 219d, the position adjustment switch 219e, and the massage course switch 219f.

  The correspondence relationship between the type of the position adjustment switch 219e and the driving directions of the motors M2 and M4 is as follows. When the “left” button is pressed, an instruction to drive the motor M4 forward is issued, and when the “right” button is pressed, an instruction to reversely drive the motor M4 is issued. Further, when the “front” button is pressed, an instruction to drive the motor M2 forward is given, and when the “back” button is pressed, an instruction to reversely drive the motor M2 is given. When the front, rear, left and right buttons of the position adjustment switch 219e are pressed, the water discharge nozzle 240 moves in each direction while maintaining the distance from the through hole 251 substantially constant by driving the slide mechanism 270.

  In this embodiment, the driving amount of the motors M2 and M4 when the position adjustment switch 219e is operated is determined by operating a coordinate point (see FIG. 14) described later for n pressing operations of the position adjustment switch 219e. The amount is increased or decreased by the value n in the direction displayed on the button.

  The control device 264 that has received an instruction to move the position of the water discharge nozzle 240 by operating the changeover switch 219d and the position adjustment switch 219e determines the movement amount of the water discharge nozzle 240 and the movement amount based on the number of operations of the position adjustment switch 219e. The drive state of each motor M2, M4 to be realized is determined, and the drive in this drive state is instructed to the slide mechanism 270. Based on this instruction, the slide mechanism 270 drives the motors M2 and M4, whereby the position of the water discharge nozzle 240 is moved stepwise. For example, when any of the front, back, left, and right buttons of the position adjustment switch 219e is operated n times, the motors M2 and M4 are driven by the driving amount of n times in the forward rotation direction or the reverse rotation direction. By this driving, the water discharge nozzle 240 moves by n coordinates in the direction indicated by the pressed button from the current position. By such movement, stimulation by hot water can be obtained at a plurality of different locations in the exposed portion FUp of the sole.

  Next, the operation of the lower limb bathing apparatus 210 when the massage course switch 219f is operated will be described. When any one of the “A course”, “B course”, and “C course” buttons representing the massage course is pressed in the remote control device 219, the control device 264 that has received this operation signal is stored in the ROM. With reference to the program, a process of sequentially discharging water to different places in the through hole 251 (sequential water discharge process) is executed. When executing the sequential water discharge process, data such as a map MD that defines position information in the through hole 251 and a menu table TD that defines the contents of each massage course are referred to as appropriate. These data are stored in the ROM of the control device 264.

  An example of the map MD is shown in FIG. FIG. 14 shows a state where the through hole 251 is viewed from the water discharge nozzle 240 side in a state where the sole FU of the left foot is placed on the placement surface 254a of the footrest 250. For this reason, in FIG. 14, the exposed portion FUp of the sole FU is visible through the through hole 251. The front, back, left, and right directions shown in FIG. 14 indicate directions when the back of the left foot placed on the placement surface 254a is viewed from the placement surface 254a side. Moreover, in FIG. 14, the contour of the heel recess 250a and the sole FU existing on the placement surface 254a side is shown using broken lines.

  In the map MD, the opening area of the through hole 251 is regarded as a two-dimensional coordinate space, and each position in the opening area is expressed using coordinate points (x, y). In the present embodiment, each position in the aperture region is represented using 117 coordinate points. The control device 264 controls the operation of the slide mechanism 270 so that the water discharge port 247 of the water discharge nozzle 240 is disposed almost directly below each coordinate point. A map similar to the map MD is also stored for the through hole 251 provided at the place where the sole FU of the right foot is placed.

  An example of the menu table TD is shown in FIG. In the menu table TD, three course names including a course A effective for recovering fatigue, a course B effective for restoring appetite, and a course C effective for relieving insomnia are described as massage course names prepared in advance. Each course has a content (menu) of repeating the foot-oriented hot water sequentially at the five exposed portions FUp of the sole FU three times. In the menu table TD, information on coordinate points (hereinafter referred to as coordinate information) representing the positions in the opening regions of the through holes 251 corresponding to the five locations is stored for each course. Based on such coordinate information, the movement pattern of the water discharge nozzle 240 in each course is determined. In addition, the menu table TD stores information on the time for continuous water discharge at each of the five coordinate points (hereinafter referred to as water discharge time information) together with the coordinate information.

  The coordinate information of each course is set to a different value for each course based on the position of the sole of the sole that exhibits the effects (recovery of fatigue, appetite recovery, sleeplessness) of each course. In FIG. 14, the regions of the crucibles FUtJ to FUtN effective for fatigue recovery in the sole FU are represented in a broken-line circle, and points represented by the five pieces of coordinate information defined in the A course are represented by points A1 to A1. Shown as A5. As shown in FIG. 14, all of the points A1 to A5 are in the area of the pots FUtJ to FUtN.

  The contents and procedure of the sequential water discharge process executed with reference to the map MD and the menu table TD are shown in FIG. 16 as a sequential water discharge process routine. This routine is started when the control device 264 inputs an operation signal of the massage course switch 219f transmitted from the remote control device 219.

  When this routine is started, first, based on the input operation signal, it is specified whether the massage course selected by the user is “A course”, “B course”, or “C course”. Is performed (step S100). Next, for the massage course specified with reference to the menu table TD, the coordinate information and the water discharge time information as the first movement destination of the water discharge nozzle 240 are read (step S105), and this coordinate information is input as the target coordinate information. The process which performs is performed (step S110). Next, with reference to the map MD, coordinate information representing the current position of the water discharge nozzle 240 (hereinafter referred to as current coordinate information) is specified (step S115), and a difference value between the target coordinate information and the current coordinate information is calculated. The process which performs is performed (step S120).

  For example, when “A course” is selected in a state where the water discharge nozzle 240 is located at the point A0, as shown in FIG. 14, the current coordinate information is specified as (−1, 6), and the target coordinate information is It is input as (1, 5) representing the point A1. In this case, the difference value is +2 in the x-axis direction and -1 in the y-axis direction.

  Next, a process for instructing the slide mechanism 270 to drive the motors M2 and M4 by the calculated difference value is performed (step S130). Thereby, the water discharge nozzle 240 is moved from a position almost directly below the current coordinate information to a position almost directly below the target coordinate information. As in the above example, when the difference value is +2 in the x-axis direction and −1 in the y-axis direction, the motor M4 is driven by a driving amount of two times in the forward direction and the motor M2 is once in the reverse direction. It is driven by the driving amount. As a result, the water discharge nozzle 240 is moved backward by two coordinates from the current position (substantially directly below the point A0) to the left as indicated by the arrow between the points A0 and A1 in FIG. The robot moves by one coordinate and stops at a position almost directly below the point A1, which is the target position.

  After the water discharge nozzle 240 is moved in this manner, a process for instructing the electric pump 260 to start driving is performed (step S140), and a process for instructing the timer to start timing is performed (step S150). Thereby, hot water discharge starts from the water discharge nozzle 240 toward the position of the target coordinate information (point A1 in the above example), and the elapsed time after the start of water discharge is measured.

  Next, a process is performed to determine whether or not the elapsed time measured by the timer has exceeded the water discharge time at the first destination (read in step S105) (step S160). If it is determined, the electric pump 260 is instructed to drive in the standby state (hereinafter referred to as standby driving) (step S170). The standby drive means driving so that the water flow of water that has been discharged so far is weakened. By such standby driving of the electric pump 260, scattering of hot water during movement of the water discharge nozzle 40 is suppressed. In the process of step S170, an instruction to temporarily stop the driving of the electric pump 260 may be performed instead of the standby driving described above. Of course, it is also possible to perform the processing of step S175 and subsequent steps while maintaining the water flow of the hot water that has been discharged so far, without performing standby driving or temporary stop of the electric pump 260.

  Next, a process of determining whether or not the movement to the five coordinate points described in the menu table TD or the water discharge has been repeated three times is performed (step S175). If it is determined that the operation has not been repeated three times, the coordinate information and water discharge time information as the next movement destination of the water discharge nozzle 240 are read with reference to the menu table TD (step S180). Return and repeat the above process. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S175 that the operation has been repeated three times, it is considered that all the menus of the selected massage course have been completed, and processing for instructing electric pump 260 to stop driving is performed ( Step S190), this routine is finished.

  According to the sequential water discharge process described above, when the A course is selected as in the above example, the water discharge nozzle 240 has the points A1, A2, A3, A4, and A5 as shown by arrows in FIG. It moves in this order almost directly below, and hot water is discharged at each point for 2 minutes, 1 minute, 1 minute, 2 minutes, 1 minute. Thereby, the discharged hot water sequentially hits the five pots FUtJ, FUtK, FUtL, FUtM, and FUtN of the sole FU. Such movement from point A1 to A5 or water discharge is repeated three times.

  In the lower limb bathing apparatus 210 of the third embodiment described above, the water discharge nozzle 240 is arranged so that the hot water discharged from the water discharge nozzle 240 sequentially reaches a plurality of different points included in the through hole 251 of the footrest 250. Moved. By moving the water discharge nozzle 240 in this way, the sole-oriented hot water discharged from the water discharge nozzle 240 is a plurality of different locations in the exposed portion FUp of the sole FU exposed from the through hole 251 to the water discharge nozzle 240 side. It hits sequentially. Accordingly, it is possible to easily realize a wide range of massage of the soles using the sole-oriented hot water. Further, a plurality of different points included in the through hole 251 are determined such that the sole-directed hot water hits the pot position of the exposed portion FUp of the sole FU. Accordingly, different pots of the sole FU can be sequentially stimulated by the sole-oriented hot water.

  Further, in the third embodiment, a plurality of movement patterns of the water discharge nozzle 240 are stored in the menu table TD, and the water discharge nozzle 240 is moved based on one movement pattern selected from the plurality of movement patterns. . Therefore, by selecting a desired movement pattern, it is possible to realize a wide range of massage on the sole suitable for each person. For example, a user who has accumulated fatigue can select the A course to obtain a stimulus to the pot that is effective for recovery from fatigue, while an anorexic user can select the B course, You can get stimuli in a pot that is effective for appetite recovery.

  In the third embodiment, hot water discharged from one water discharge nozzle 240 sequentially hits a plurality of different locations on the sole of one foot. Therefore, the entire sole can be massaged with a small amount of hot water.

  In addition, the number of the water discharge locations stored in the menu table TD and the coordinate information of each location can be changed as appropriate. By such a change, the trajectory of the hot water discharged from the water discharge nozzle 240 can be freely changed. For example, by combining coordinate points along the outer shape of the foot and discharging water to the edge around the sole of the foot, or by combining coordinate points according to a circle or ellipse, the trajectory of the hot water discharged becomes a circular or elliptical orbit You can also

  In the third embodiment, three types of courses of fatigue recovery, appetite recovery, and sleeplessness cancellation are prepared based on the selection operation of the three types of massage course switches 219f, but four or more types of courses may be prepared. , There may be one or two courses prepared. Moreover, it can replace with the button which selects each course, and can also take the structure which provides the image screen of a sole in the remote control device 219 or the main body 212. FIG. Specifically, by performing an operation of plotting a portion where water discharge is desired to be obtained on the image screen of the sole, it is possible to consider a configuration in which the water discharge nozzle sequentially moves to the plotted portion to discharge water.

  In 3rd Example, it is also desirable to take the structure which determines the point where the hot water from the water discharge nozzle 240 arrives at the exposed part FUp of the sole FU according to the size of the foot. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 17A, the remote control device 19 is provided with a size adjustment switch 219g, and as shown in FIG. 17B, the coordinate information of five locations stored in the menu table TD1 is The information may be stored in advance for each piece of foot size information that can be selected by the size adjustment switch 219g. In this way, coordinate information of five locations corresponding to the selected foot size is extracted by the foot size selection operation by the size adjustment switch 219g, and each course menu is executed based on this. Therefore, it is possible to accurately massage the soles of the feet with hot water regardless of the size of the feet placed on the footrest 250, and to respond to differences in the positions of the pots according to the foot sizes. can do.

  Further, a configuration may be adopted in which the coordinate information of five locations determined by the size adjustment switch 219g and the menu table TD1 is corrected, and the corrected coordinate information of the five locations is registered as an original menu. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 18A, the remote controller 19 is provided with an original course switch 219h including a registration button, an execution button, and a course selection button, and as shown in FIG. 18C, the control device A registration table SD that can be written to H.264 is provided.

  First, five pieces of coordinate information corresponding to the foot size are extracted from the menu table TD1 by operating the size adjustment switch 219g. FIG. 18B shows standard coordinate information extracted when a foot size of 28 centimeters is selected in the A course. Thereafter, when the registration button of the original course switch 219h is operated, the coordinate information of the five locations is once written in the registration table SD, and thereafter, the simulation mode is entered. In the simulation mode, hot water is discharged in sequence at a predetermined interval at each of the five coordinate points. The user confirms the arrival point to the sole of the hot water, and if it is desired to correct the arrival point, the position adjustment switch 219e is operated during the interval, and the coordinate information of each point is corrected in the front, rear, left and right directions. To do. This correction result is reflected in the registration table SD. FIG. 18C shows a registration table SD in which coordinate information after correcting the standard coordinate information shown in FIG. 18B (hereinafter referred to as corrected coordinate information) is described. Thereafter, when the registration button is pressed again, the corrected coordinate information is associated with the course name and stored in the storage area in the control device 64, whereby the original menu is registered. After registration, the user selects the desired course name by operating the selection button of the original course switch 219h, and presses the execution button after the selection, whereby water is discharged to five locations on the sole of the foot based on the corrected coordinate information.

  By adopting such a configuration, it is possible to obtain a sense of irritation by hot water at a desired position at the five positions of the sole FU, and it is possible to cope with individual differences in the position of the pot of the sole FU. In addition, since data related to a desired position is registered, the registered data can be read later to reproduce the feeling of irritation caused by hot water to the desired position.

  In the third embodiment, sequentially discharging water to a plurality of different locations on the sole (hereinafter referred to as sequential water discharge) is realized by a configuration in which the position of the water discharge nozzle 240 is moved. It can also be realized by adopting a configuration in which the inclination angle of the water discharge nozzle (direction of the water discharge port) is changed as in the second embodiment. When this configuration is adopted, the total length of the water discharge nozzle is configured to be extendable and the control device controls the degree of expansion / contraction of the water discharge nozzle so that the total length of the water discharge nozzle extends as the inclination angle of the water discharge nozzle increases. Is preferred. If it carries out like this, it will become possible to change a separation distance according to the magnitude | size of the inclination angle of a water discharge nozzle. Therefore, the strength of water discharge hitting the sole can be changed in accordance with the location where water discharge is performed on the sole. For example, if the separation distance is controlled to be equal regardless of the inclination angle of the water discharge nozzle, water discharge with the same strength can be obtained on the entire sole.

(4) Fourth Example Next, a fourth example will be described. In the fourth embodiment, the lower limb bathing apparatus is provided with a water discharge nozzle that discharges water while the nozzle body 44 revolves and rotates instead of the water discharge nozzle 40 that discharges water while the nozzle body 44 revolves. This is different from the first embodiment. A specific configuration of such a water discharge nozzle is shown in FIGS. 19 to 21 as a fluid ejection device 910. FIG. 19 is a longitudinal sectional view of the fluid ejection device 910, FIG. 20 is a lateral sectional view of the fluid ejection device 910, and FIG. 21 is an enlarged view of the main part of the ejection body 920 that can be incorporated in the fluid ejection device 910. It is explanatory drawing shown with it.

  As shown in FIG. 19, the fluid ejection device 910 forms a swirl chamber 912 formed in a cylindrical shape as an inflow chamber into which a fluid (or hot water when used in a lower limb bathing apparatus) flows in the main body 911, The fluid is introduced into the swirl chamber 912 from the original flow path 916 through the inflow path 914. The swirl chamber 912 is formed of the swirl chamber forming part 918 and the main body 911 by fitting and mounting the swirl chamber forming part 918 on the main body 911, and has an opening 919 on the ceiling.

  The inflow channel 914 has a smaller passage cross-sectional area than the original channel 916, and is eccentric to the center of the swirl chamber 912 and connected to the swirl chamber 912. For this reason, the fluid flows from the inflow path 914 into the swirl chamber 912 from the tangential direction, and generates a swirl flow swirling along the inner wall of the swirl chamber 912. In this case, since the cross-sectional area of the inflow channel 914 is smaller than the original channel 916, the flow velocity of the fluid flowing into the swirl chamber 912 can be increased.

  The fluid ejection device 910 includes an ejection body 920 incorporated in the swirl chamber 912. As shown in FIG. 21, the ejection body 920 includes a columnar ejection body main body 922 positioned inside the swirl chamber 912, and a ejection body cap 924 that is a mounting body is fitted and attached to a small-diameter portion at the tip thereof. ing. And the ejection body 920 positions the ejection body main body 922 and the ejection body cap 924 up and down across the opening 919 of the swirl chamber 912.

  The ejection body 920 is a conduit for guiding the fluid in the swirl chamber 912 to the ejection port 926 of the ejection body cap 924. The ejection body main body 922 has an introduction conduit 928 penetrating through the ejection body 922 in a cross shape, An axial pipe line 930 extending from the pipe line to the upper end of the main body and extending in the jet body axial direction is provided. Further, the ejector cap 924 has an inclined conduit 932 that communicates with the axial conduit 930 and reaches the spout 926 at the end of the cap. Therefore, the ejection body 920 guides the fluid flowing into the swirl chamber 912 to the inclined conduit 932 through the introduction conduit 928 and the axial conduit 930, and ejects the fluid from the ejection port 926 in the inclined conduit 932. . The inclined conduit 932 is a conduit inclined from the axial conduit 930 at the upper end of the ejector body 922 to the ejection outlet 926 in a state where the ejector cap 924 is attached to the ejector body 922. The inclined pipe line 932 is inclined at an inclination angle β with respect to the ejector center axis FJ so that the washing water is expanded conically and spouted by rotation of the ejector 920 described later. The ejection direction of the ejected fluid is determined.

  As shown in FIG. 21, the ejector cap 924 has a spout 926 that is the end of the inclined conduit 932 on a surface 933 orthogonal to the inclined conduit 932. Therefore, in this inclined pipe 932, the passage length of the fluid when the fluid passes through the inclined pipe 932 and reaches the jet outlet 926 is substantially the same around the jet outlet 926. The inclination angle of the surface 933 is the same as the inclination angle β of the inclined conduit 932.

  As shown in FIG. 21, the ejector cap 924 described above can have various lengths, and by properly using these, the inclined pipe line 932 can be adjusted without changing its inclination angle β. Can be adjusted. Further, if a plurality of ejector caps 924 having different inclination angles β are prepared, it is possible to set the magnitude relationship between the inclination angle α and the inclination angle β by replacing the ejector cap 924, and from the outlet 926. The ejection form of the fluid can be easily changed.

  The ejection body 920 includes a tapered step 923 on the lower end side of the ejection body cap 924 attached to the tip of the ejection body 920, and the step 923 is positioned below the opening 919 of the swirl chamber 912. And a jet cap 924 having a jet outlet 926 is positioned outside the opening 919. Thus, the ejection body 920 is supported in a suspended state in the opening 919 with the ejection port 926 of the ejection body cap 924 facing the outside from the opening 919. Therefore, when the fluid pressure in the swirl chamber rises due to the flow of fluid into the swirl chamber 912, the ejector 920 causes the stepped portion 923 that hits the vicinity of the jet outlet 926 to the inner wall on the swirl chamber 912 side of the opening 919 of the swirl chamber 912. Inscribed.

  Since the ejection body 920 incorporated in the swirl chamber 912 is in the above-described free suspended state, the stepped portion 923 is in contact with the inner wall of the swirl chamber 912 (specifically, the lower edge of the opening 919). Thus, a swinging and revolving motion that tilts with respect to the revolution axis KJ that is the central axis of the opening 919 and rotates in a swinging manner with this contact portion as a vertex can be caused. The inclination angle of this swinging revolution movement will be described later. In addition, the ejection body 920 can also cause a rotation motion that rotates around the ejection body center axis FJ. The ejector body 922 is located in the swirl chamber 912, receives various forces described later from the swirl flow, and has a conical neck of the ejector 920 with the step 923 around the opening of the opening 919 as a contact. This is involved in swinging and revolving driving, which will be described later.

  The swirl chamber forming part 918 is attached to the main body 911 to form the swirl chamber 912 and also forms a guide portion 934 surrounding the ejector body 922 of the ejector body 920 at the upper part of the swirl chamber 912. The guide portion 934 has a smaller diameter than the inner diameter of the swirl chamber 912, and comes into contact with the peripheral wall of the ejection body main body 922 as shown in FIG. Specifies the maximum inclination angle (inclination angle α) when swinging and revolving.

  Next, the state of driving of the component parts in the fluid ejection device 910 having the above-described configuration and the state of fluid ejection associated therewith will be described. FIG. 22 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the state of driving of the components in the fluid ejection device 910 and the state of fluid ejection associated therewith. In a situation where no fluid is supplied to the fluid ejection device 910, it can be assumed that the ejection body 920 is in an upright posture as shown in FIG. When a fluid is supplied to the fluid ejection device 910, the fluid surely causes a swirling flow around the ejection body main body 922 in the swirl chamber 912. In this swirling flow, the flow velocity difference around the ejection body main body 922 is surely caused in the vicinity of the inflow path 914 that is an inflow portion into the swirl chamber 912 and the opposite side of the ejection body main body 922. Can do. Therefore, the jet body main body 922 can generate a force of the same quality as the lift generated by the speed difference around the wing of the airplane based on this flow velocity difference. Thus, it is inclined with respect to the revolution axis KJ which is the central axis of the swirl chamber 912.

  When the jet body main body 922 starts to tilt, the gap between the jet body main body 922 and the inner wall of the swirl chamber 912 is narrowed on the tilted side, so that the speed of the swirl flow further increases, and the speed difference described above increases. Greater force is generated and tries to tilt more. In addition, the jet body main body 922 is inclined so that the side surface of the jet body main body 922 receives a swirl flow, and the jet body main body 922 rotates in the swirl flow direction. Thereby, the ejection body 920 makes the ejection body main body 922 contact the guide portion 934, tilts from the revolution axis KJ by an inclination angle α, and swings and revolves around the revolution axis KJ. When the ejector 920 swings and revolves in this way, centrifugal force is generated in the rotationally outward direction due to this revolving motion (rotational motion). Since this centrifugal force acts on the ejection body 920 so that the ejection body main body 922 always contacts the guide portion 934, the ejection body 920 rotates stably, that is, swings and revolves at the inclination angle α.

  Simultaneously with such inclination and rotation, the ejection body 920 receives the pressure of the fluid in the swirl chamber 912 and moves upward, so that the ejection body 920 causes a part of the step portion 923 to be inscribed in the inner wall of the opening 919. While swinging and revolving.

  Thus, while the ejector 920 is swinging and revolving, the ejector 920 receives the frictional force due to the contact with the inner wall (specifically, the guide portion 934) of the swirl chamber 912, and therefore the center of its own ejector It rotates around the axis FJ, that is, rotates. In this case, the rotation direction of the rotation is the rotation in the opposite direction to the rotation direction of the swinging revolution and the swirl flow because the ejection body 920 rolls in contact with the guide portion 934. In this embodiment, since the guide portion 934 is formed to prevent slip using a material such as rubber having a high frictional resistance, the sliding of the ejector 920 at the guide portion 934 is substantially the same around the guide portion. Thus, a frictional force is easily generated on the ejection body 920. Therefore, the rotational force (frictional force) due to the swinging revolution of the ejection body 920 can be reliably generated as the force that causes the ejection body 920 to rotate, and the ejection body 920 can be reliably rotated. As another method for reliably causing the rotation in this way, a shot blasting process for spraying a fine steel ball or the like is performed on the guide portion 934 so that minute irregularities are formed on the guide surface of the ejector body 922. it can. In addition, minute irregularities can be formed on the surface of the ejector body 922 of the ejector 920. Such slip prevention may be provided only in a partial region of the guide portion 934 and the ejector body 922, which will be described later.

  The speed (number of rotations) when the ejecting body 920 swings and revolves is determined by the speed of the fluid flow into the swirl chamber 912, and the speed (number of rotations) when the ejecting body 920 rotates. Is determined by the ejection body 920 rolling the guide portion 934 by this revolution. Accordingly, when the inner diameter D of the guide portion 934 and the revolution speed are R with respect to the outer diameter d of the jet body 920 (specifically, the jet body main body 922), the rotation speed is R × ((D−d ) / D). Therefore, in this example, if D = 6 mm, d = 5.8 mm, and the revolution speed is R = 2100 rpm, the rotation speed is about 100 rpm. That is, the rotation speed of the ejection body 20 is decelerated compared to the revolution speed, and the rotation period is longer than the revolution period. In fact, when the fluid is used as water, it has been confirmed by experiment that the revolution speed is about 1700-2800 rpm and the rotation speed is about 70-150 rpm at a flow rate of about 3 liters per minute when the fluid is used as water. It was done. Thereby, the rotation speed / rotation speed ratio in the present embodiment can be in a range of about 10 to 30 times.

  In this embodiment, the speed ratio between the swinging revolution movement and the rotation movement of the ejection body 920 is set to be larger than the rotation speed by the outer diameter d of the ejection body 920 and the inner diameter D of the guide portion 934. did. Then, by approximating the outer diameter d of the ejection body 920 and the inner diameter D of the guide portion 934, the inclination angle α when the ejection body 920 swings and revolves as shown in FIG. The angle α and the inclination angle β are set such that α <β.

  The state of fluid ejection when such a fluid ejection device 910 is used will be described in comparison with the case where the water discharge nozzle 40 in the first embodiment is used. FIG. 23 is an explanatory diagram showing the state of fluid ejection by the fluid ejection device 910 in comparison with the case of the water discharge nozzle 40.

  FIG. 23A shows a state of fluid ejection from the nozzle body 44 of the water discharge nozzle 40. The nozzle body 44 has a pipe line (that is, an inclination angle β = 0) that coincides with the central axis of the nozzle body 44, and causes only the swinging and revolving motion at the inclination angle α, and does not cause the rotation motion. Then, the fluid from the water discharge port 47 becomes a conical jet having a spread determined by the inclination angle α from the central axis of the opening 46 (spinning revolution axis KJ). The fluid reaching region RE extends around the revolution axis KJ.

  FIG. 23B illustrates a state of fluid ejection from the ejection body 920 of the fluid ejection device 910. As shown in the drawing, the jet passage 920 is swung and revolved only after the pipe leading to the jet outlet 926 is an inclined pipe 932 inclined at an inclination angle β (in the figure, a pipe inclined to the right). If so, the position of the fluid arrival region RE shown in FIG. 23A changes in accordance with the inclination angle β. When tilted to the right as shown in the figure, this fluid reaching region RE is further increased by the tilt angle β of the tilted duct 932 from the jet body center axis FJ in the posture in which the jet body 920 is tilted to the right at the tilt angle α. It will tilt to the right. Moreover, since the inclination angle α and the inclination angle β have a relationship of α <β, the fluid reaching region RE in the case of having the inclination angle β is a fluid in the case where the inclination angle β shown in FIG. It will shift to a position where it does not interfere with the arrival area RE. That is, the fluid can be ejected around the revolution axis KJ while forming a region where the fluid does not reach around the revolution axis KJ (see FIG. 23B). Such fluid ejection can be referred to as so-called hollow fluid ejection, and in this hollow fluid ejection, the location where the fluid hits the sole FU can be separated.

  Next, it is assumed that the ejecting body 920 that swings and revolves while securing such a fluid arrival region RE causes a rotational motion around the ejector center axis FJ. Then, as shown in the lower part of FIG. 23B, the fluid reaching region RE rotates around the ejector body central axis FJ. However, in this embodiment, since the revolution speed of the ejection body 920 is larger than the rotation speed, for example, when the revolution speed is 10 times the rotation speed, 10 revolutions of the swing revolution movement occur and the rotation movement occurs. As a result, the ejector 920 causes one rotation, so that the fluid reaching region RE obtained by one swing motion is the ejector center axis FJ as shown in the figure as the ejector 920 rotates. It rotates around the revolution axis KJ while changing the position around. In this case, the positional displacement of the fluid arrival region RE per one rotation of the swinging revolution movement is given by (spinning speed / revolution speed). When such a fluid ejection state occurs, the fluid arrival region RE rotates so as to surround a region where the fluid does not reach around the revolution axis KJ from the above-described relationship of α <β. That is, the fluid can be ejected with a hollow around the revolution axis KJ, and the degree of the hollow is almost determined by the inclination angle α and the inclination angle β.

  In the lower limb bathing apparatus using such a fluid ejection device 910, the fluid ejection from the ejection body 920 causes the fluid arrival region RE of the ejection fluid from the ejection outlet 926 to slowly change its position around the ejection body central axis FJ. However, it will rotate around the revolution axis KJ, and it will be in the state which surrounds the area | region where a fluid does not reach around the revolution axis KJ. Therefore, if this fluid ejection device 910 is used, the state of fluid ejection from the ejection port 926 toward the foot sole FU is expanded in a conical shape, and the revolution / rotation of the ejection body 920 whose speed is defined and the revolution / It can be diversified by the inclination angles α and β of the rotation.

  Further, in the fluid ejection device 910, a jet port 926 that is an end opening of the inclined pipe line 932 is provided on a surface 933 orthogonal to the inclined pipe line 932. The passage length of the fluid when passing through and reaching the ejection port 926 is substantially the same around the ejection port 926. Therefore, when the fluid is ejected from the ejection port 926, the fluid can be ejected at a substantially uniform speed around the ejection port, so that the hot water directed toward the sole FU can be ejected from the ejection port 926 well. That is, it is possible to stabilize the hot water ejection state that reaches the fluid arrival region RE shown in FIGS.

  In the fourth embodiment, the speed of the swinging and revolving motion of the ejection body 920 around the revolution axis KJ is high, and the speed of the rotation movement of the ejection body 920 around the ejection body central axis FJ is slow. That is, the rotation period of the ejection body 920 is longer than the swinging revolution of the ejection body 920, and the fluid arrival position transition accompanying the rotation of the ejection body 920 occurs slowly at the fluid arrival point, for example, the human body epidermis, The transition of the arrival position of the fluid accompanying the swinging revolution of the ejector 920 occurs quickly.

  In such a situation of fluid ejection, the human body more recognizes fluid ejection due to rotation with a slow position transition. In other words, the skin sensation of the human body with respect to the stimulus becomes slower as the frequency at which the stimulus is applied is higher (in accordance with this embodiment, the higher the speed of the arrival position transition of the ejected fluid), the slower the perception of the stimulus. The human body is more aware of fluid ejection due to (low frequency) rotation.

  Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the low-speed and low-speed rotation injection (rotation jet) with a large jet angle (inclination angle β) is performed as described above. Can be produced. In this case, rotation of about 1 to 2.5 Hz at an inclination angle β = 15 ° is generated by revolution of about 28 to 47 Hz at an inclination angle α = 10 °. This rotation ratio is substantially determined by the ratio of the outer diameter d of the ejection body 920 and the inner diameter D of the guide portion described above. Specifically, by adjusting the inner and outer diameters, the ejection body main body 922 of the ejection body 920 and the like By changing the ejector cap 924 or the guide portion 934, the rotation period (frequency) of the ejector 920 can be variously adjusted, and the state of the fluid ejection described above, for example, the degree of hollowing around the revolution axis KJ can be adjusted.

  In other words, as shown in FIG. 21, if the jet body 920 having the upper jet body cap 924 in the drawing is used, the tilt angle β of the inclined conduit 932 becomes larger than the tilt angle α of the swing revolution. Therefore, the range of hollowing around the revolution axis KJ becomes wider. On the other hand, the inclination angle α can be increased by increasing the inner diameter D of the guide portion 934 so that the inclination angle α and the inclination angle β have a relationship of α ≧ β. Alternatively, the inclination angle β of the inclined conduit 932 shown in FIG. 21 can be reduced so that the inclination angle α and the inclination angle β have a relationship of α ≧ β. These cases will be described later.

  In addition, in the present embodiment, since the fluid ejection with a hollow is performed, if this is applied to the landing of hot water on the sole FU in the lower limb bathing apparatus, the following advantages are obtained. In the hollowed-out fluid ejection, the fluid reaching region RE is turned around the revolution axis KJ by removing the circumference around the revolution axis KJ, so that the sole FU is stimulated at a distant place. In general, when a place where a stimulus is applied to the human body is separated (in the case of the present embodiment, a place where the discharged hot water is landed on the sole FU), the stimulus (obtained by bathing in the hot water) is provided at such a separated place. It is said that the person who receives (stimulus) can get a massage feeling as if it were rubbed. This is said that when a stimulus is applied to two places at a distance in the human epidermis, there is a boundary between whether the stimulus is felt at one point or at two points. Such a distance is called the two-point discrimination threshold. Based on the relationship between the two-point discrimination thresholds of the stimulus, the sole FU is stimulated by adjusting the inclination angles α and β so that the fluid arrival region RE rotates around the revolution axis KJ at intervals exceeding the two-point discrimination threshold. When given repeatedly, it is possible to obtain a massage feeling that the part receiving the stimulus is rubbed. In this case, since the repetition of the stimulation is determined by the position transition of the fluid arrival region RE around the revolution axis KJ, that is, the speed (cycle) of the swinging revolution movement of the ejection body 920, adjustment of the fluid inflow speed into the swirl chamber 912 is performed. By adjusting the revolution speed after that, it is possible to make the repetition of stimulation slow or somewhat quick, and the above-mentioned massage feeling becomes remarkable and is preferable.

  In the present embodiment, when the ejection body 920 swings and revolves, energy is received by the fluid flowing into the swirl chamber 912 to cause a swirl flow around the ejector body 920 in the swirl chamber 912, and based on this swirl flow The ejector 920 is swung and revolved. Therefore, since an electric drive source is not required for the swinging and revolving motion of the ejection body, the configuration can be simplified.

  Further, in this embodiment, friction is generated at the contact portion of the ejection body 920 with the guide portion 934, and the ejection body 920 is caused to rotate based on the frictional force. Accordingly, even if the ejection body 920 is caused to rotate, an electric drive source is not required, so that the configuration can be simplified. In other words, in the present embodiment, in order to obtain the ejection of the fluid as described above, a speed reduction mechanism and a special device are not required at all and can be achieved with a very simple configuration.

  In the present embodiment, the guide portion 934 regulates the maximum inclination angle (inclination angle α) when the ejector 920 swings and revolves. Therefore, maintaining the posture when the ejector 920 is tilted at the tilt angle α, stabilizing the swinging revolution motion of the ejector 920 at this tilt angle α, and ensuring the stabilization of the rotation motion in the tilted posture. Preferred above. Further, by maintaining the posture and stabilizing the movement, the fluid ejected from the ejection port 926 can be stably conical, and the rotation of the fluid reaching region RE around the revolution axis KJ can be stabilized. . Further, since the guide portion 934 contacts the peripheral wall of the jet body main body 922 and regulates the inclination angle α, the jet body 920 is caused by the frictional force of the contact portion when the jet body 920 swings and revolves. Can rotate reliably. Therefore, it is possible to reliably cause the rotation of the fluid arrival region RE around the revolution axis KJ.

  Further, in this embodiment, the jet body 920 that revolves inside the swirl chamber 912 as described above, and the jet body main body 922 at the lower portion thereof has a cylindrical shape. Therefore, the swirling flow around the cylindrical ejector body 922 can be prevented from being a swirling flow in which the flow is inadvertently disturbed on the circumferential wall of the cylinder, and such suppression is suppressed in the axial direction of the cylindrical ejector body 922. To be expressed. For this reason, the above-described speed difference of the swirling flow is surely generated in the axial direction of the cylindrical ejector body 922, so that the entire cylindrical ejector body 922 contributes to lift generation and the lift is increased. Can do. Thereby, it is possible to ensure the swinging and revolving of the ejector body 922 and the ejector body 920.

  The force that the ejector 920 tries to rotate is that the ejector 920 rolls on the wall surface due to the rotational force due to the flow from the swirl flow and the frictional force due to contact with the inner wall of the swirl chamber 912 (specifically, the guide portion 934). There are two rotation forces that are generated by the two rotation forces, but the rotation directions by these two rotation forces are different. Therefore, by making the ejection body 920 cylindrical, the rotation force that the ejection body 920 receives from the swirling flow due to the viscous resistance of the fluid on the inner wall surface of the swirl chamber 912 can be reduced. It becomes possible to receive only the rotation force by the frictional force by contact | abutting to the inner wall of this, and to rotate stably. In addition, you may provide a slip prevention part in at least one of the contact parts of the guide part 934 and the ejection body 920. FIG. In this way, when the ejection body 920 contacts the guide portion 934 and performs a rotational motion, slippage at the contact portion is suppressed and a frictional force at the contact portion is easily generated. Therefore, since the rotational force due to the swinging and revolving motion can be surely rotated, various effects caused by the relationship between the revolution speed and the rotation speed and the relationship between the inclination angle α and the inclination angle β as described above can be obtained. Can surely cause. In this case, the anti-slip portion may be made of a material such as rubber having a high frictional resistance, or may be made difficult to slip by being subjected to minute unevenness processing, and can be configured with a simple structure.

  In addition, in this embodiment, when the ejector 920 has the inclined conduit 932 having the inclination angle β, the ejector cap 924 is attached to the tip of the ejector body 922, and the ejector cap 924 is attached to the ejector body 922. The swirl chamber 912 was positioned outside the opening 919. Therefore, even if the centrifugal force acts on the ejection body 920 as described above and the ejection body 920 tries to move to the bottom surface side of the swirl chamber 912 by the component force, the ejection body cap 924 functions as a stopper in the opening 919. Can be made. For this reason, since the ejection body 920 is not inadvertently brought into contact with the bottom surface of the swirl chamber 912, the swinging revolution and rotation movement of the ejection body 920 can be smoothed.

  In the fourth embodiment described above, the state of fluid ejection when the revolving speed of the ejection body 20 is greater than the rotation speed and the inclination angle α and the inclination angle β are in the relationship of α <β has been described. As described above, in the fluid ejection device 910 according to the fourth embodiment, the rotational speed of revolution / rotation of the ejection body 920 is adjusted by adjusting the values of the outer diameter d of the ejection body main body 922 and the inner diameter D of the guide portion 934. The ratio can be changed, and the inclination angle α of the ejection body 920 and the inclination angle β of the inclined pipe line 932 can be appropriately changed. Hereinafter, in the fluid ejection device 910 according to the fourth embodiment, a modification in which the revolution / spindle rotation speed ratio, the inclination angle α, and the inclination angle β are changed will be described with reference to FIGS. 24 to 26.

  FIG. 24B is an explanatory diagram for explaining the state of ejection when the revolution speed of the ejection body 920 is greater than the rotation speed and the inclination angle α and the inclination angle β are in the relationship of α ≧ β. In FIG. 24B, the inclination angle β is the same as that of the fourth embodiment (FIG. 23B), and differs from the fourth embodiment in that the inclination angle α is set to a value equal to or larger than the inclination angle β. Yes. In FIG. 24A, for convenience of explanation, the jet body 920 does not have the inclined pipe line 932 as the pipe line toward the jet port 926, and the axial pipe line along the central axis of the jet body 920. It shows the state of fluid ejection when it is assumed that only 930 is included (that is, the inclination angle β = 0). In this case, as compared with FIG. 23A, the cone-shaped ejection when the inclination angle β = 0 is further widened by the amount of the inclination angle α (see FIG. 24A), and the revolution axis KJ is The fluid reaching region RE at the center is also widened.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 24 (B), after the pipe line toward the jet outlet 926 is an inclined pipe line 932 (pipe line inclined rightward in the figure) inclined at an inclination angle β, When only the swinging and revolving motion is caused, the position of the fluid arrival region RE changes according to the inclination angle β. However, the fluid arrival region RE whose position has been changed interferes with the fluid arrival region RE (FIG. 23A) when the inclination angle β = 0 because of the relationship of α ≧ β. As the inclination angle α becomes larger than the inclination angle β, the interference area increases, and the fluid reaches a region including the revolution axis KJ or exceeding the axis. In addition to increasing the inclination angle α, the inclination angle β can be reduced to satisfy the relationship of α ≧ β.

  Next, it is assumed that the jet body 920 that swings and revolves with the fluid arrival region RE shifted in this manner causes a rotational movement around the jet body center axis FJ. Then, as described above, the fluid reaching region RE rotates around the ejector body central axis FJ (see FIG. 24B), and the revolution speed of the ejector body 920 is larger than the rotation speed. The fluid reaching region RE that has expanded due to its large size is rotated around the revolution axis KJ so as to surround the revolution axis KJ while slowly changing its position around the ejector body central axis FJ as illustrated in FIG. Will rotate. In this case, the position displacement of the fluid reaching region RE per rotation of the swinging revolution motion is also given by (spinning speed / revolving speed), and the fluid reaching region RE includes the revolution axis KJ from the relationship of α ≧ β described above. Will reach the area. Therefore, the fluid arrival region RE overlaps in the region including the revolution axis KJ and the ejected fluid overlaps, and in the periphery, the ejection state is such that the fluid arrival region RE rotates around the revolution axis KJ. Thereby, fluid ejection without hollowing out can be obtained.

  And in this modification, since fluid ejection without hollow is performed, if this is applied to the landing of hot water on the sole FU in the lower limb bathing apparatus, hot water is concentrated and bathed at a predetermined location of the sole FU. Therefore, it is suitable for giving a stimulus to the acupuncture point of the sole FU. In addition, the acupuncture points on the sole FU can be stimulated by concentrated water discharge and the surrounding area can be stimulated. Since the repetition of the stimulation is defined by the position displacement of the fluid arrival region RE described above determined by the rotation speed and the revolution speed, it is possible to repeat the stimulation slowly to the acupuncture point or repeat the stimulation a little faster. Diversification of stimuli is possible.

  FIG. 25 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the state of ejection when the rotation speed of the ejection body 920 is made larger than the revolution speed and the inclination angle α and the inclination angle β are in a relationship of α> β. In this case, since the rotation speed is high, the state of the fluid ejection can be explained from the behavior of the ejection body 920 accompanying the rotation motion. Now, as shown in FIG. 25, the ejection body 920 is provided with a pipe line toward the ejection outlet 926 inclined from the ejection body central axis (ejection body central axis FJ) by an inclination angle β, and the central axis (neck of the opening 919) It is assumed that the posture is inclined by the inclination angle α from the revolution axis KJ). Then, it is assumed that the ejector 920 causes only the rotation motion in this posture and does not cause the swing motion. Then, the fluid from the jet outlet 926 becomes a conical jet with a spread determined by the tilt angle β from the jet body central axis FJ at a position tilted by the tilt angle α from the revolution axis KJ of the swing revolution. And the fluid arrival area | region RE spreads centering on the ejector body central axis FJ. In this case, since the inclination angle α and the inclination angle β are in a relationship of α> β, the fluid reaching region RE spreading around the ejector central axis FJ is a region where the fluid does not reach around the revolution axis KJ. Will form.

  Next, when the ejector 920 that rotates so as to become the fluid reaching region RE causes a swinging and revolving motion around the revolution axis KJ, the fluid reaching region RE rotates around the revolution axis KJ. . However, since the rotation speed of the ejector 920 is larger than the revolution speed, for example, if the revolution speed is 10 times the revolution speed, the ejection body 920 is ejected by the swing revolution movement while the rotation movement is occurring 10 revolutions. Since the body 920 makes one revolution, the fluid reaching region RE obtained by one revolution movement is positioned around the revolution axis KJ as shown in the figure with the swinging revolution movement of the ejection body 920. It will rotate while changing. In this case, the position displacement of the fluid arrival region RE per one rotation of the rotation motion is given by (revolution speed / spinning speed). When such a fluid ejection situation occurs, the fluid arrival region RE turns around the revolution axis KJ so as to surround the region where the fluid does not reach from the relationship of α> β described above. It becomes a hollow fluid jet.

  FIG. 26 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the state of ejection when the rotation speed of the ejection body 920 is made larger than the revolution speed and the inclination angle α and the inclination angle β are in the relationship of α ≦ β. In this case, as compared with FIG. 25, the extent of the conical ejection at the position inclined by the inclination angle α from the swinging revolution axis KJ is increased by the larger inclination angle β, and the ejector center axis FJ is The fluid reaching region RE at the center is also widened. Since the inclination angle α and the inclination angle β are in the relationship of α ≦ β, the fluid reaching region RE that spreads around the ejector central axis FJ reaches the region including the revolution axis KJ. As the inclination angle β becomes larger than the inclination angle α, the region extending beyond the revolution axis KJ increases.

  Next, when the ejector 920 that rotates so as to become the fluid reaching region RE causes a swinging and revolving motion around the revolution axis KJ, the fluid reaching region RE rotates around the revolution axis KJ. . Accordingly, as described above, the fluid reaching region RE includes the revolution axis KJ and rotates around the axis, so that fluid ejection without hollowing out can be obtained. In this case, the positional displacement of the fluid arrival region RE per rotation is also given by (revolution speed / spinning speed).

  As described above, the inclination angle α and the inclination angle β that affect the fluid ejection are determined according to the magnitude relationship between the revolution speed when the ejector swings and revolves and the rotation speed when the ejector rotates. For example, if it sets as mentioned above, the diversification of the fluid ejection expanded conically can be achieved.

  Here, the experience evaluation will be described. For this sensation evaluation, the lower limb bathing apparatus (FIGS. 1 to 4) using the water discharge nozzle 40 of the first embodiment described above, that is, the lower limb bathing apparatus of a straight pipe line in which the water discharge line coincides with the nozzle axis It is. Fifteen people actually used this lower limb bathing apparatus, and conducted a bodily sensation evaluation test. The conditions for this sensation evaluation test will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in the figure, in the sensation evaluation test, the inclination angle α when the nozzle body 44 swings and revolves is set to 20 °, and the flow rate per unit time of hot water from the spout 47 is 10 liters / minute with both feet. Set to. Then, hot water was spouted from the spout 47 toward the soles FU (near the arch) of both feet placed on the footrest 50. As described above, the range in which the spouted hot water lands on the sole FU is substantially circular, and the value of the water discharge diameter Di, which is the diameter of this water landing range, is the distance from the spout 47 to the sole FU. By changing L by the movement of the footrest 50, it was changed in increments of 1 cm between 3 and 8 cm.

  Satisfaction when the hot water was obtained on the sole FU under these conditions was interviewed for each value of the water discharge diameter Di, and the number of satisfied people was counted for each value of the water discharge diameter Di. The result of the aggregation is shown in FIG. As shown in the drawing, when the range of landing on the sole FU is substantially circular, a particularly suitable feeling of use can be obtained when the value of the water discharge diameter Di is 5 centimeters or more and less than 7 centimeters. I understood.

  The embodiments of the present invention have been described based on the examples and modifications. However, the present invention is not limited to these examples and the like, and various modes are possible without departing from the gist of the present invention. Of course, it can be implemented. For example, the above embodiments or the above modifications may be combined as appropriate.

  The shape of the footrests 50, 150, 250 can be changed as appropriate. For example, the top plates 54, 154, and 254 may have a net shape, and the hot water discharged from the water discharge nozzles 40, 140, and 240 may reach the soles through the through holes formed in the mesh.

  In the above embodiment, the water discharge nozzles 40, 140, 240 are provided for each of the left and right feet so that water can be discharged simultaneously to both the left and right feet. It is. For example, in the third embodiment, if a map common to the left and right through holes 51 is stored as the map MD, the water discharge nozzle 240 can move between the right foot through hole and the left foot through hole. Therefore, water can be sequentially discharged to each part of each foot by one water discharge nozzle 240. In this way, further water saving can be achieved.

  The lower limb bathing apparatus of the above embodiment is used by being installed in a bathroom (for example, a bathroom) provided with a water supply facility and a drainage facility. , 260, the foot bath can be performed even in a place where there is no water supply facility. Further, in the above embodiment, if the drain tank for receiving hot water discharged from the drain holes 28, 128, 228 is built in the lower portions 30, 130, 230, the foot bath can be performed even in a general room without water supply / drainage facilities. Can do.

  It is also possible to provide an instantaneous heater in the water supply mechanism. In this way, the water supplied to the water supply pipe 63 is warmed by the heater and supplied to the water discharge nozzle 40. Therefore, warm water can be obtained on the legs even in places where there is no hot water supply facility.

  In the above embodiment, it is possible to adopt a configuration in which a sheathed heater is embedded in the upper portion 20. For example, when a sheathed heater is embedded in the footrest 50, the sole can be warmed during use of the lower limb bathing apparatus 10.

  In addition, if a blower that blows air into the upper portion 20 is provided, it is possible to dry the foot after the foot bath, which is preferable. In particular, if the blower blows air between the toes, the toes can be quickly dried.

  In the above embodiment, the water discharge nozzle 40 for discharging hot water toward the sole of the foot is provided, but it is directed to each part of the foot other than the sole (back, fingers, nails, ankle, instep, heel, ankle, etc.). The water discharge nozzle 40 may be additionally installed in the recess 26 so that the hot water is discharged. Moreover, it may replace with such the water discharge nozzle 40, and may provide the nozzle which sprays mist-like hot water. It is also possible to realize the turning of the nozzle body 44 in the water discharge nozzle 40 by driving a motor.

It is explanatory drawing which shows schematic structure of the lower limbs bathing apparatus 10 as 1st Example of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which shows the arrow cross-sectional shape when the lower limb bathing apparatus 10 is cut | disconnected longitudinally along the 2-2 line in FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows a mode when the bottom face 26t of the recess 26 is seen from the top. It is explanatory drawing explaining the mode of an action | operation of the water discharge nozzle. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a swing mechanism 80. FIG. FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing a structure of a cam mechanism 81. In 1st Example, it is explanatory drawing which shows the area | region where the hot water discharged from the water discharge nozzle 40 lands on the exposed part FUp of the sole FU. It is explanatory drawing which shows the structure of the slide mechanism using water discharging force. It is explanatory drawing which shows the structure which provides many water discharge nozzles directly under the range of the area | region U1. It is explanatory drawing which shows the structure of the swing and slide mechanism 180 employ | adopted in 2nd Example. In 2nd Example, it is explanatory drawing which shows the area | region where the hot water discharged from the water discharge nozzle 140 lands on the exposed part FUp of the sole FU. It is explanatory drawing which shows schematic structure of the leg water bath apparatus 210 as 3rd Example. It is explanatory drawing which shows the structure of the slide mechanism 270. FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of map MD. It is explanatory drawing which shows an example of menu table TD. It is a flowchart which shows a sequential water discharge treatment routine. It is explanatory drawing which shows the modification regarding size adjustment. It is explanatory drawing which shows the modification regarding registration of an original course. It is explanatory drawing which carried out the longitudinal cross-sectional view of the fluid ejection apparatus 910 used for the leg bathing apparatus of 4th Example. It is explanatory drawing which looked at the fluid ejection apparatus 910 in the cross section. It is explanatory drawing which shows the ejection body 920 which can be integrated in the fluid ejection apparatus 910 with a principal part enlarged view. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the mode of the drive of the component in the fluid ejection apparatus 910, and the mode of the fluid ejection accompanying this. It is explanatory drawing which shows the mode of the fluid ejection by the fluid ejection apparatus 910 compared with the case of the water discharge nozzle 40. FIG. It is explanatory drawing explaining the mode of the ejection in case the inclination angle (alpha) and inclination angle (beta) are made into the relationship of (alpha)> = (beta), after making the revolution speed of a jet body larger than a rotation speed. It is explanatory drawing explaining the mode of ejection in case the inclination-angle (alpha) and inclination-angle (beta) are made into the relationship of (alpha)> (beta), after making the rotation speed of the ejection body larger than the revolution speed. It is explanatory drawing explaining the mode of the ejection in case the inclination-angle (alpha) and inclination-angle (beta) are made into the relationship of (alpha) <= (beta) after making the autorotation speed of the ejection body larger than the revolution speed. It is explanatory drawing which shows the content of the bodily sensation evaluation test using the lower limb bathing apparatus of 1st Example.

Explanation of symbols

10, 110, 210 ... lower limb bathing device 12 ... main body 15 ... rubber foot 19 ... remote control device 19a, 119a, 219a ... water discharge switch 19b, 119b, 219b ... cover opening / closing switch 19c , 119c, 219c ... water setting switch 20 ... upper part 21 ... front cover 22 ... rear cover 23L, 23R ... rubber member 24L, 24R ... rubber member 25L, 25R ... hole 26, 126, 226 ... recess 26t, 126t, 226t ... bottom 27L, 27R ... opening 28, 128, 228 ... drain hole 29 ... drain port 30, 130, 230 ... Lower part 38 ... Storage chamber 40, 140, 240 ... Water discharge nozzle 41 ... Nozzle block 42 ... Inflow chamber 44 ... Nozzle body 45 ... Water discharge hole 46 ... Opening 47, 147 247 ... Water outlet 48 ... Guide part 50,150,250 ... Foot stand 50a, 50a, 250a ... recess 51, 151, 251 ... through hole 54, 154, 254 ... top plate 54a, 154a, 254a ... mounting surface 55A-D ... side plate 58. ..Gate opening 59 ... Gate opening 60,160,260 ... Electric pump 61 ... Flexible pipe 63 ... Water supply pipe 64,164,264 ... Control device 80 ... Neck Swing mechanism 81 ... Cam mechanism 82 ... Engagement rod 85 ... Slide mechanism 86 ... Rail 87 ... Shaft 88 ... Stopper 171 ... Table 180 ... Swing / slide mechanism 219d ... switch 219e ... position adjustment switch 219f ... massage course switch 219g ... size adjustment switch 219h ... original course switch 270 ... slide mechanism 271 ... table 910 ... fluid ejection Device 911 ... Main body 912 ... Swirl chamber 914 ... Inlet channel 91 ... original flow path 918 ... swirl chamber forming part 919 ... opening 920 ... ejector body 922 ... ejector body 923 ... stepped part 924 ... ejector body cap 926 ... jet Exit 928 ... Introductory pipe 930 ... Axial pipe 932 ... Inclined pipe 933 ... Surface 934 ... Guide part DL, DR ... Polymerization part FJ ... Spout body central axis KJ ... Revolving axis RE ... Fluid arrival area

Claims (19)

A lower limb bathing device that bathes hot water in the lower limbs,
A nozzle for discharging hot water,
A footrest having an exposed area on which a foot is placed and exposing a predetermined range on the sole of the foot to the nozzle side;
A lower limb bathing apparatus comprising: a water discharge state control unit that controls a water discharge state from the nozzle so that hot water discharged from the nozzle sequentially reaches a plurality of different points included in the exposed region. The lower limb bathing apparatus according to claim 1,
The water discharge state control means is a lower limb bathing apparatus which is a means for changing the arrival point of the discharged hot water along the front-rear direction of the foot on the footrest. The lower limb bathing apparatus according to claim 2,
The reaching point of the discharged hot water is a lower limb bathing apparatus extending over a range of 5 cm at least in the front-rear direction of the sole. The lower limb bathing apparatus according to claim 2,
A lower limb bathing apparatus in which the hot water arrival point changed along the front-rear direction of the foot by the water discharge state control means includes a plurality of points on the sole of the foot. The lower limb bathing apparatus according to claim 1,
The water discharge state control means is a lower limb bathing apparatus which is a means for changing the arrival point of the hot water in the front-back direction and the width direction of the foot on the footrest. The lower limb bathing apparatus according to claim 5,
The reaching point of the discharged hot water is at least 5 cm in the front-rear direction of the sole and 4 cm in the width direction of the sole. The lower limb bathing apparatus according to claim 1,
The water discharge state control means is a lower limb bathing apparatus that is a means for changing the arrival point of the hot water along a predetermined path at the position of the foot on the footrest. The lower limb bathing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the predetermined path is preset as a circle, an ellipse, or a predetermined closed curve. The lower limb bathing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the predetermined route is preset as a route that sequentially passes through the plurality of arrival points. 10. The nozzle according to claim 1, wherein the number of nozzles is one for each foot, and the water discharge state control unit is a unit that changes the arrival point of the hot water by changing a water discharge direction from the nozzle. The lower limb bathing device described. 10. The nozzle according to claim 1, wherein the number of nozzles is one for each foot, and the water discharge state control means is means for changing an arrival point of the hot water by changing a position of the nozzle. Lower limb bathing device. The nozzle is one per foot, and the water discharge state control means changes the position of the nozzle in a plane substantially parallel to the position where the sole exists, thereby determining the arrival point of the hot water. The lower limb bathing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9, which is a means for changing in a dimensional manner. The lower limb bathing apparatus according to claim 11 or 12, wherein the nozzle position is changed by a motor. The nozzle position is changed using a reaction of water discharged from the tip of the nozzle, and when the nozzle reaches a predetermined position, a mechanism for reversing the direction of water discharged from the nozzle is provided. The lower limb bathing apparatus according to claim 11. A lower limb bathing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9,
A plurality of the nozzles are provided,
The lower limb bathing apparatus, wherein the water discharge state control means is a means for changing the arrival point of the hot water by sequentially selecting a nozzle for discharging the hot water from the plurality of nozzles. The lower limb bathing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 15, further comprising a determining unit that determines an arrival point of hot water from the nozzle according to a size of the foot. The lower limb bathing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 16,
Registration means for registering a set of a plurality of position data representing a plurality of arrival points of the hot water as a set;
Reading means for reading a set of data registered as the set based on a predetermined operation;
The lower limb bathing apparatus, wherein the water discharge state control means controls the arrival point of hot water discharged from the nozzle based on a set of data read by the reading means. The lower limb bathing apparatus according to claim 17,
The said registration means is a leg bath device provided with the correction means which corrects the position data about at least one of the several position data showing the several arrival point of the predetermined hot water. A lower limb bathing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 18,
An operation pattern in which hot water discharged from the nozzle sequentially reaches the plurality of different points, pattern storage means for storing each of the arrival points of different combinations,
The lower limb bathing apparatus, wherein the water discharge state control means is means for controlling the water discharge state based on one drive pattern selected from the plurality of operation patterns.

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